Easily accessable by car there are a fair number of hotels to choose from.
Shopping, the tourist attractions of the Harbor make it a good choice as well.
Baltimore is a very grim place in spots so you dont want to venture far off the main path if you dont know the city. Downtown is your best choice I think.

I prefer BWI or Columbia because of the lighter traffic and the free parking.

But downtown, there are a couple of good hotels near the harbor.  The Sheraton Inner Harbor and the Hyatt next to it has good parking garages around, and are a block or less from Hooters, which is a bonus for the guys!

There's more to do within walking distance of there, which is good for you, but also good for us as well.  We can get there early, park, and find something to do other than wait in the lobby.

Inner Harbor is the place. Parking is an issue ($$$), as is traffic. BWI is more convenient for clients, less so for providers without ready transportation. The IH is yuppy-ish.

Fells Point, Little Italy (oh Pazzo's), etc are nearby as well.

To get away... local aquarium & science museum... lot's of tasty ethnic restaurants up N Charles around the 800 block (just north of Washington Monument).